Related Content

Investigators said Williams’ wife, Crystal Williams, had let Marcus Johnson (pictured above right with Williams) into the house. She then woke up her husband, and told him he needed to put more wood on the fire. When Shane Williams walked into the living room, Johnson fired a gun five times, hitting Williams three times, police said.

The Williamses were married for 14 years and had a 10-year-old son, who was in the home at the time his father was shot and killed.

Sheriff Rick Clark said text messages between Crystal Williams and Johnson led to their arrests. He said Williams and Johnson knew each other since they were children, but there was no indication of a romantic relationship.

Clark said the murder was arranged to gain $250,000 in life insurance to be shared by Williams and Johnson.

Williams faces up to five years in prison for conspiracy and life without parole for murder. She has 10 days to appeal the plea.

Shane Williams’ father, Michael, addressed the judge and said, “He was a dedicated son, brother, father, husband and friend to many. God was first in Shane’s life. He served as a Sunday school teacher, a deacon and he also sung in the choir. He was a hard worker and had a giving spirit. He was also an avid deer hunter.

“In the season of 2013, he carried his 10-year-old son on his first deer hunting trips that season and he killed two bucks. This deer season just hasn’t been the same and Glenn will never get the same experience again. Everyday we’ll remind him of the lives he touched -- his kindness and his love. His life was cut short due to an act of senseless, evil greed. His loss has left a void in our community, family and even his workplace. That we can never replace, your Honor.”

The only words Williams spoke in court were, “I’m sorry.”

Solicitor Walt Wilkins said Johnson was offered the same opportunity of a negotiated plea of life without parole, but he did not take it. On Friday, Wilkins served Johnson with notice that he will be seeking the death penalty.

Wilkins said this will be the first time he will seek the death penalty in his tenure as Pickens County solicitor.

Wilkins said, “The state had offered both defendants the same deal. If you want to avoid the death penalty, you can plead to a negotiated sentence of life without the possibility of parole. Ms. Williams decided to take that deal and plead guilty today and received that sentence. The co-defendant did not, so he was served with a notice of the state’s intent to seek the death penalty and that’s where we are in this stage of the litigation."

Since the plea deal has expired and the notice has been served, Johnson can’t change his mind.

Wilkins said, “We just hope the family has some solace today and some resolution that Crystal Williams has accepted responsibility for her act. I think they can sleep a little better tonight, but unfortunately we still got a co-defendant that we’re going to continue to prosecute.”

Johnson has admitted to being the shooter, according to Wilkins

Wilkins said, “There’s a young boy involved in this who lost his father and now his mother is going to be spending the rest of her life in jail. So he’s the real loser in all of this.”